Engine-starter.



J. H. LONDICK.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.10,1913 RENEWED JULY 24.1914. 1 y 1 21, 108.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

VVQTNESSES:

: {aw/74 l J. H. LONDICK. ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED FBB.10,191-3. RENEWEINUL 1,121,108.,

Patnted Dec. 15, 1914.

Z SHEETS-SHBET 2,

WITNESSES: '5; 4M

JOHN H. LONDICK, E PORTSMOUTH, OHIU, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT J'. STEELE. OF NORTH BALTIMORE, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Applicatidn filed February 10, 1913, Serial No. 747,407. Renewed July 24, 1914. Serial No. 852,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Lormron, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and f State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Engine-Starter; and I do hereby declare the followin r to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereom which form a part of this specification. 5 This invention relates particularly to spring starting apparatus for internal coinbustion engines, but is not restricted to such use as it may be employed in any connection for which it may be adapted or appropriate.

The object of my invention is the provision of a starting apparatus of this characv ter, which is simple, and compact in its construction and provided with improved means for controlling the release of a shaft driving spring and the rewinding thereof, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value of apparatus of this character.

A further object of the invention is the 0 the engine;

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a multiple independently-operable spring starter of this class, of improved means which is automatically operable to 5 rewind an unwound spring or springs of the set when the engine shaft-is being turned by the running of the engine. a

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broaderaspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;-

Figure l is a side elevation of an appa- 5 ratus embodying the invention with a portion of the same in central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a right-hand end elevation thereof with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line 9:, a: in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are side and end views of the control shaft for the several spring units. Fig. 6 is a detail of the clutch connection between the two sections of the en ine shaft. Figs. 7 and 8 are different details of the trip finger of the apparatus, andFig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the body of an automobile equipped with the invention, with parts broken away.-

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the crank-shaft of an engine, and 2 an axially alining longitudinally shiftable extension for the outer or forward end of said shaft, said section being adapted to have clutch engagement at its inner end with the adjacent end of the shaft 1, as indicated at 3 in Fig. (5. A shift collar l is mounted over the adjacent ends of the two shaft sections 1- and 2, being feathered, in the present instance, to the shaft section 1, as indicated at 5, and having pin-andgroove connection with the shaft section 2, as shown at 6, to admit of an axial shifting of the collar to move the shaft section 9. into or out of clutch engagement with the shaft section 1.,

The shaft section 2 carries the casing 7 of the starter apparatus and projects through and is jourualed in a plurality of spaced partition members 8, which are disposed in the casing transversely thereof and divide the same into a plurality of compartments 9. In inch of these compartments is mounted one of the starter units of the apparatus, and as such units are of duplicate construction a detailed description of one only thereof will be given.

Eac-h starter unit has a hub member or collar 10 encircling the shaft section 2. Within its compartment 9 and loosely mounted, in the present instance, at its opposite ends on extensions of the bearing portions 8 of the adjacent partitions 8 of the compartments, and has the portion thereof intermediate said bearing parts formed with tapered race-ways 12 (see Fig. 3) in which clutch rollers 13 work to cooperate with said Patented Der15, 1914.

collar to clutch the shaft to cause the collar, when rotated in one direction, to effect a driving of the shaft. Loosely mounted on the right-hand end portion of the clutch collar 10, in the present instance, is a disk 14, which is provided at an annular. transversely 14', which proj forms a drum for starter spring 15, around the c fixedly attach and its inner en la! 10,'aS at 17.

The clutch coll from turning on spring 1 therein, by a pivoted toa s partition 8 adj spring carryin free end provi gaging a lug shown in Figi attached 1: and eXten turn attac Y connection ratchet-arm 26 is prefera the foot-trea ter turning mo pression of cate a quar trip-shaft ed to the fi fixedly attache tud 19projec acent to the ope g shell 14;-

d with a ca 20 on the co 3. An arm shaft exten throughwhi tically elongated for the present aft s'ofthat the shaft 23 th b successively partition and collar have complemental 10; er turns of th h ft cam-surfaces, as at 40, which cause the col; g i l arrangelar when partially rotated on the shaft to on the Shaft;

23 has interm ted thereto by different units wi the inner en instance, is s treadle 27 (se 3 conne ted by a d cent partition 8 throughfia longitudinal slot k 29 attached to the 44 in the finger 42 to guide the movements d end portion of 'thereof. A coiled contraction spring 45 is (1 this link i ca attached at one endto "the finger 42 andat 120 link 31, which initsfother end to the interior of the case 7 The (seeFig. 3) to influence a movement of the (1 of which i swinging lin de of the f the automobile frame, an nected by a link 30 to a hes to the ratc 'between the foot-trea bly such that a dle will communiregister and to force the clutch memb'er'fi'i 1 25- vement to the into engagement with its clutch gear, so

hat-arm 26.

ft-collar 4 on th .connection with the links 30 points of pivotal connection,

its outer edge with 32, which is carried by a bracket-arm 33 projecting flange projecting from the adjacent end of the case the collar 10 and 7 and is adapted to shift the collar 4 to inclosing the associated effect a movement of the shaft section 2 which is'spirally wound into clutch engagement with the shaft sec- 7 10 and has its outer end tion 1. when thelinks 30 and 31 are moved ange 14, as at 16, to impart a tripping movement to the shaft d to'the col- 23.- It is thus apparent that the shaftsections 1 and 2 are in engagement when the ar 10 is'normally prevented clutch-collar 10 is released so that the turnder the influence of e latter has energy s the ing movement which is imparted to the sectored tioni2 by the released spring will immedimember 18, which is ately. be communicated to the section 1 to ting from the start thgtassociated engine. The collar 4 11 side of the and other control parts are normally maing0 and has its tained in the position shown in Fig. 1, with tch-nose for enthe shaft sections disconnected, in any suitllar 10., as best able manner, as by a spring 27, which con- 21 i pivgtally nects the treadle 27 to an adjacent frame end of the member 18 part and yieldingly resists a depressing of 5 ds upward therefrom and is pro- ,the treadle. 'vided at its 'upper en 22 through whi h a work s. This length "of the .ca the partitions 8 24 projecting ra cam-lug 241 at eac 23 engagesla regis .yoketom raising vof the v in engagement 3' P g, P e b ri m a v'ided, as in the shaft 23 'a ters of the turning of of the leased at di'iferent'quart in the order ment ofthe lugs The trip-shaft te'r turns imp movements of -th mounted on the case 7-, an suitable control means in the present prising lower en 28 to a under 51 with a forked yoke Mounted preferably in the lower portion trip-shaft 23 loosely of the case 7 throughout the length thereof ds'throughout the. in suitable bearings provided in the partising 7, be ingjournaled in tions 8 is a countershaft 34, which carries has a cam-lug or spur a loose-gear 35' in each compartment 9 in dially of they h revolution vto mesh with a gear 36 on the outer side of the f the shaft associated spring carrying part 14. The tering pin 25 within the shaft 34 also carries a clutch-member 37 m21 to efiectfll upwardwithin each compartment ofj the case 01395 collar-lug 20, th engagement with a complemental portion of ch th haft the associated gear 35, "the said' member h being splined or featheredyto the shaft/in ti it are any suitable manner and normally held'di's: g

c s th lug 24; on engaged from the gear by a spring 38.

d t diff e t quarcollar 39 is loosely mounted on the shaft34 upon a, l t between the outer end of the'clutchmemherf i l t h ll 10 37, and the adjacent partition 8, and the have an axial movement to impart a gear en 'ttent quargaging movement to the clutch-member 37, oscillatory as 18 apparent. I I

26 that i The collar 39 has an arm 41 pro ecting d th f ith t radially therefrom, and pivoted to the outer d h s co n ti with any end of this arm is a thrust-finger 42,'Which Th t l means, projects transversely from said arm, as

' h w as shown in Fig. 3,. for the purpose hereinafter e Fig. 9) th described. A pin 43 projects from the adjadle 27 and finger'and arm 39 in a direction to move dethe c omplem'entalcam surfaces 40 out of that a driving of the shaft 34 will effect a'--' e engine shaft h turning of the spring carrying drum l414 and 31, at their through the medium of the gears 35 and -36 by a shift lever to rewind the-associated spring when its ill inward relative to the flange.

energy has been spent. A spring linger 46 is attached at one end to the inner side of the drum flange 14, with its free end projecting in the direction of spring winding rotation of said flange, and normally tending to move When the spring is in its wound or contracted state the laterally projecting nose 16 on the free end portion of the spring-finger l6 coacts with the free end of the thrust-finger 42 to hold such finger and connected collar 39 in neutral or clutch released position against the tension of the spring When the spring 15 expands upon an unwinding movement thereof, the spring-finger 46 is forced outward thereby from end thrust engagement with the thrust-linger 42, thus permitting such finger and attached parts to move to clutch engaging position under'the influence of the spring 445, whereby to throw the spring re winding mechanism into operation. As the spring dram lit-14 rotates upon a rewinding at the spring 15 the spring-finger 46 revolves therewith until the spring has been contracted a sufficient extent to permit the nose 46" of the spring-linger 46 to move into engagement with the registering end of the thrust lingerst2,w11en such fingers will coact to movethe collar 15 to neutral position to permit a release of the clutch memher 37 from engagement with its gear, thus stopping a further winding of the sprin The nose or outer end portion of the thrustfinger e? is laterally offset to provide a thrust surface for the nose 46 of the springfinger 16 and to enable the nose 46 to pass .under the enacting end portion of the finger 42 when the path of movement of the nose portion of the spring-finger is without the offset portion of the thrust-finger.

The means employed for communicating rotary, movements to the shaft 34 from the engine shaft consists. in-the present instance, of an eccentric 4:? that is loosely mounted on the shaft section 2 at the rear end of the case 7 and has connection through an eccentric strap and arm with a ratchet arm 49 on the rear end of the shaft 3 L, whereby the movements imparted to the arm 18, during a rotation of the eccentric l7, will communicate an intermittent rotary movement to the shaft 31. The eccentric 4c? is driven from the shaft section 1 when the engine is running and the shaft sections 1 and 2 are iscommcted. due to the shift collar 4, when in normal position, having ils forward end in clutch engagement with the eccentric collar. as at 50, and having its rear end splined in the shaft section 1. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It thus evident that the springs 15 uzl only he rewound when the shittable control parts are in their normal position with the shaft sections disengaged.

.i pawl 51 is carried by the case '7 for each gear 36, and is adapted to engage the teeth thereof in a manner to prevent a back turning or spring unwinding movement of the drum l t-14, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to efi'ecta positive return of the catch-member 18 to engagement with the lug on the clutch-collar 10 after the associated spring 15 has spent its force in turning the engine shaft or until the rewinding action occurs, the member 18 is provided at its inner end with an upwardly projecting arm 18?, which has a spring finger or brush 18 projecting from its outer end in contiguous relation to the, flange 14 of the spring drum in position to be engaged by the free end of the spring-finger 46 upon a revolution thereof with the drum. The spring-finger 16 engages the spring finger 18 in a direction to rock the catch member 18 into engagement with the clutch-lug 20.

The operation of my improved starter apparatus is as follows: To start an engine the operator depresses the foot-treadle 27 to communicate a rocking movement to the ratchet-arm 26 on the tripshaft 23 and also to'rock the lever 32 to shift the sleeve 4 longitudinally of the engine shaft to release its clutch engagement with the eccentric 47, and to move the shaft section 2 rearward into clutch engagement with the shaft section 1. The movement of the ratchetarm 26 is suflicient to impart a quarter turn to. the trip-shaft 23, should the starter be of the four unit type, and moves one of the trip-r lugs '24 on' such shaft to effect a raising movement of the associated arm 21 due to 100 the coaction of the lug with a pin at the yoke end of such arm. The raising of the arm 21 retracts the catch-member 18 from engagement with the lug 20 on the associated clutch-collar 10, and permits such 105 sition. and then again depresses the foot- 115 troadle to impart another quarter turn to the trip-shaft- 23 to etl ect a release of the spring of the next unit in order, which release is etlected. in the same manner-as described for the first'spring. This releasing action may be repeated for the several units of a set. if desired. The expanding or an" winding action of each starter-spring 15 moves the free end of the spring finger -16 w V outward lrom end thrust engagement with the thrust linger 42 to permit such finger and the connected cam member 39 to more under the inlinence of the spring to throw the clutch collar 37 on the rewindinghaft 3% into clutch engagement with the gear 130 Should the starting action of the for the nose 46' cam-member 39 to its neutral position to place the rewinding parts in condition to l rewind the released springs when the shaft 34 is driven for such purpose. the motor has been starte and the engineshaft is running, the foot-treadle 2'1 is released to permit the shift-sleeve f to return to its normal position with its forward end in clutch engagement with the eccentric &7, whereby the shaft section 2 is released from the section 1 and the eccentric a7 is driven from the section 1. The driving of the eccentric a? by the motor communicates rotation to the rewinding-sliaft 34 and causes a rewinding of the spring or'springs,'which were released in the starting action, by reason of the gears 85 being in mesh with the drum-gears 36 and being in clutch connection with the shaft 3%, as above described.

When a starter spring has been rewound a predetermined extent the free end of the associated spring-finger 46, which revolves with the-drum 1 l-1el during the rewinding action, will have moved inward with the outer convolution of the spring sufficiently thereof to have end-thrust contact with the thrust-finger-42, whereby'to eifect a movement of the fingerAzZ against the tension of the spring to throw the and associate to permit a releasing of the clutch-collar 37 from engagement with its gear 35, thus stopping the rewinding action.

It is evident that I'have provided a simple and efficient starter mechanism which is provided with a plurality of independently operable starter units adapted to be operated in relays or in successive order in the starting of an attached motor, as it may be desired to, use more than one starterunit in the starting operation. It is also evident that the starter unit springs, or those which have spent their energy in starting the motor, are rewound in unison by. the motor, when the latter is running, without anyattention on the part of the operator.

I wish it understood" that my invention is not limited to any specific construction or arrangement of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims 3 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire-to secure by Let ters Patent, is,-

1. A starter of the class described, having'a plurality of independently operable starter units, mechanism operable to release the starter units and means automatically operable to restore energy in the released units.

2. Ina starter of. the class described, a sectional shaft,'means operable to connect the shaft sections, aplurality of independently operable starter units carried by one.

of saidsections, and mechanism operable to move eaidimeans tozconnect theshaft sec- When in predetermined order-,1

tions and to release the starter units in predetermined order, the shaft sections being connected when a starter unit is released.

3. In a starter of'the class described,- a

1 shaft, spring starting means carried by the shaft and adaptedto have driving clutchengagement therewith when released, a catch member normally coacting with a part of said means to prevent a shaft starting movement thereof, a trip-shaft having connection with said catch member and operable at predetermined point in a rotation thereof to move the catch member to released position, and mechanism operable to impart rotary movements to said trip-shaft. 8 3

e. In a starter of the class described, a shaft, a plurality of spring actuated starter units for the shaft, a catch member associated with each starter unit for holding it against shaft driving movements, a trip- 8 shaft common to all of said units and having a spur projecting therefrom for each unit, means attached to the catch member of each unit and movable by the respective shaft spur to move the catch member to releasedpositionat a predetermined point in a revolution of the tripshaft, and mechanism for rotating the trip shaft.

5. In a starter of the class described, a motor shaft, a plurality of spring starter units carried by' the shaft and normally held against shaft drivipg movements, a trip-shaft common to sai units, connectionbetween the trip-shaft ahd each unit operf able to release the associated unit'at a predeterimined'point in each revolutionof the trip-shaft. the different units being released at different points in a rotation of the tription between said rewinding shaft and memher having a clutch means between said re-' winding shaft and rotatable member, means operable to move "said clutch meansto close 5 the driving"connection-between said shaft-- and membena part carried by said member andv automatically operable to move said ,means to elutch'releasing position when the unit spring has been wounda predeterminedextent. '7. In a starter of the class described, a coiled starter spring, a member-attached to said spring and movable to rewind the same when its energy is spent, a' spring part car- 2 ried by said member and movable from normal positionby an unwinding of the spring,- rnn'achanismoperable to impart spring rewinding movements to said member and having clutch .meansffor making and wiring the driving connection between d member and mechanism, said cl =1 nzunns nozxnnllv standing lil engaged ,Hion und :kt :1 re ictrrnnneil point in n rewindspring to cllcct :1 release of soul :ni :g ynnu-dus of the class described, 'tczr mg. a rotatable clement ntto. d spring and movable to rewind tl'ic some. :1 rmvinding nirclmnisni norinully in driving connct ion Willi said nicn'ihcr to smile. and humus :nuotnnticnlly to break the driving" connection it said mechanism and mPlfllj-Ol when the spring has hccn contracted :1 prcdetcrn;incd e.\ it upon :1 rcivinding thereof. said means lacing :intoni:iticnll released by the unwinding notion of the spring to opcrntivcly connect said mechanism and member.

9. in an apparatus of the (1:1? described, :11 plurality of shaft drivingnni each having :1 coiled shaft driving spring. :1 member attached to the spring :ind rotutnlile to impart reminding movements thereto. :1 reninding mechanism connnon to all of said un and having parts normally in driving conn ction with the respective members, and means znitoinzitically operable to disconnect the driving connection between said mech ism and ench member when the respective springs nave been revvonnd :1 predetermined extent.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a sectional motor shaft, means movable to connect the shaft sections to rotate together, :1. starter spring carried by one of said sections, it member attached to said spring and rotatable to rewind the same, :1 rcrvinding mechanism normally lieving driving connection with said member to impart rewinding movements thereto, means for holding" the said member when the spring wound to :1 predetermined extent, means automatically operable to release the driving connection betvveen said mechanism and member when the s'ring has beet Wound :1 predetcn mined extent, said mechanism being driven from one of said shaft sections and being nexus to stop the spring rcvvinding disconnected therefrom when the shalt sectiL-"ins znc coxmcctcdv 11.. in :in :ippnrutus of the class described,

zncnns og crnlz-lc by said spring :1 motor shaft, :1 spring driving means for said she it having a rotatable spring rcnindinc member, eccentric driven by said shaft, mechanism driven by said eccentric .i'or rcivinding the said spring, and a clutch for connecting the nicchnnisni with the member. 7

12. In on :ippnratus of the class described, :1 motor shaft, :1 spring staring means therefor having :1 spring and n spring, rewinding part, rcivinding mechanism in nuliflzlfltltfllll) operated clutch controlled conncction with said part, said mechanism having a shaft, :1 ratchet connected to said mechanism :l'or importing intermittent movements thereto, and an eccentric connccted to the motor shaft and to said ratchet through said last nznned shaft for impnrh ing movcments thereto.

13. In an apparatus of the class describe? a shaft, :1 coiled stnrterspring for said shaft, .L rotatable revvindinq part attached to the spring, mechanism operable to rotate said part in spring revvinding direction, and means operable by the expansion of the spring upon the unwinding movement thereof to throvv sdi'd mechanism into driving connection with said part.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a shaft, 11 coiledstarter spring for said shaft, a: rotatable rewinding part attached to the spring, mechanism operable to rotate said part in spring rewincling direction, and means operable by an expansion of said sprin upon an unwinding movement thereof to throw said mechanism connection with said port and operable to disconnect said mechanism and part at :1 predetermined point in :1 rcvvinding of the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my nzune to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN II. LONDICK. :Vitncsscs OLIVE F. LONDICK, .iosnrl-r W. ISIITCI-IELL.

into driving 7 

